Frost heave-protected sleeve-connected shut-off valve

ABSTRACT

A frost heave-protected shut-off valve, which includes a lower body portion, having a lower fluid inlet means and an upper fluid outlet means; a flap valve between the inlet and outlet means, which valve includes a flap member and a valve seat, the flap member being mounted for rotation with a pivot pin having an external portion extending out of the body portion. A restraining arm, including a fusible link, is secured to the external portion of the pivot pin and extends transversely from the pin, being rotatable therewith. Means are present in the form of a spring or the like, serving to normally bias the flap member toward a closed position. A nipple is attached to the fluid outlet means and has a weakened shear zone extending about it proximate to the body portion. A sleeve is secured about the upper portion of the nipple and is in sealing relationship therewith. The restraining arm is normally held in a position maintaining the flap member open against the force provided by the biasing means. Upon upward displacement of the sleeve a predetermined distance with respect to the nipple, the restraining means is disabled to permit the flap member to close against the seat thereby shutting off fluid flow through the valve.

United States Patent [191 Turley [451 Jan. 14,1975

1 1 FROST HEAVE-PROTECTED SLEEVE-CONNECTED SHUT-OFF VALVE [76] Inventor: James F. Turley, 446 Lexington Ave., Cranford, NJ.

[22] Filed: Aug. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 388,540

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 270,225, July 10,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,515,157 6/1970 Milo 137/68 3,709,240 l/l973 Milo 137/68 Primary Examiner-Alan Cohan Assistant Examiner-Richard Gerard Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Omri M. Behr [57] ABSTRACT A frost heave-protected shut-off valve, which includes a lower body portion, having a lower fluid inlet means and an upper fluid outlet means; a flap valve between the inlet and outlet means, which valve includes a flap member and a valve seat, the flap member being mounted for rotation with a pivot pin having an external portion extending out of the body portion. A re straining arm, including a fusible link, is secured to the external portion of the pivot pin and extends transversely from the pin, being rotatable therewith. Means are present in the form of a spring or the like, serving to normally bias the flap member toward a closed position. A nipple is attached to the fluid outlet means and has a weakened shear zone extending about it proximate to the body portion. A sleeve is secured about the upper portion of the nipple and is in sealing relationship therewith. The restraining arm is normally held in a position maintaining the flap member open against the force provided by the biasing means. Upon upward displacement of the sleeve a predetermined distance with respect to the nipple, the restraining means is disabled to permit the flap member to close against the seat thereby shutting off fluid flow through the valve.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures saw an 4 FIG. 5

m n JAN 1 41915 FROST HEAVE-PROTECTED SLEEVE-CONNECTED SHUT-OFF VALVE This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Ser. No. 270,225, filed July 10, 1972, for FROST HEAVE-PROTECTED SLEEVE CONNECTED SHUT-OFF VALVE, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This application relates generally to safety shut-off valves, and more specifically relates to a flap-type shutoff valve for use in gasoline dispensing stations, or the like.

Safety shut-off valves of the general type considered in the present invention, are in widespread use at locations where hazardous liquids are handled. In typical commercial gasoline filling stations, for example, gasoline is commonly stored in underground tanks from which it is pumped to remote dispensing units mounted at pedestal installations. Because of the extremely hazardous nature of the gasoline, it has become common to provide a safety shut-off valve which functions to seal off the gasoline delivery pipe at the vicinity of the said pedestal, in the event of adverse environmental conditions. For example, in order to protect against the hazard presented by fire, a spring-biased flap valve may be provided between the inlet and outlet portions of the safety shut-off valve, with a heat fusible link being connected externally to the end of a pin constituting the rotatable axis for the flap member. Upon the occurrence of excessive heat conditions, the fusible link melts, permitting the forces provided by the said spring to urge the flap member to a closed position. A device of this type is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,378,021 to J. V. Milo.

Yet another condition requiring actuation of the shut-off valve occurs where the dispensing conduit is sheared from the pedestal, as for example, may occur by accidental collision of vehicles or the like with the dispensing apparatus. In order to guard against this condition, safety shut-off valves of the type aforementioned, have in the past been further provided with a shear section, often constituting a reduced strength portion of the valve body as, for example, by inwardly directed beveling extending about the wall of the valve body. Reference may be had here to the aforementioned Milo patent, as well as to the U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,157 to A. Milo. In instances such as these, the aforementioned arm is restrained in its normal position by means ofa pin which projects from a portion of the valve above the shear zone and is engaged by an opening in the aforementioned arm. Accordingly, should the weakened shear section be disrupted by impact, the pin disengages from its corresponding opening in the arm, permitting the already biased arm to thereupon rotate and effect closing of the flap member.

Yet a further hazard against which protection has in the past been sought, occurs in response to environmental conditions of cold creating a so-called frost heave." Shut-off valves of the aforementioned type commonly terminate in an upwardly projecting nipple, which nipple is secured to the dispenser piping through a sealing sleeve and a pair of gland nuts which engage the sleeve at oppositeends thereof to compress sealing and packing members, thereby producing a relatively fluid-type seal between the nipple and piping thereby joined. On the occurrence of the aforementioned frost heave, the nipple can begin to slip with respect to the sleeve, in consequence of which it is, under extreme conditions, possible to effect complete disruption of the joint between valve and delivery conduits, permitting fuel to spill with obvious, consequent danger.

In the past various constructions have been proposed in an effort to overcome the aforementioned problems created by frost heave. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,515,157, a valve is disclosed wherein the nipple portion is provided with a circumferential groove which serves an anchoring means for a split ring which projects beyond the outer peripheral surface of the nipple. The gland nut has a beveled edge which bears against the split ring, whereby the ring serves as a stop to prevent the gland nut and associated collar from rising unduly with respect to the nipple. One objection to a construction of this type is that further heaving can exert enough force to snap off the nipple, thus necessitating a repair operation; the locking ring feature is furthermore a relatively expensive construction.

In accordance with the foregoing, it may be regarded as an object of the present invention, to provide a safety shut-off valve, which in addition to responding to excessive heating and to mechanical damage conditions, effects shut-off of fluid flow in response to frost heave.

It is a further object of the present invention, to provide a safety shut-off valve for use in the handling and dispensing of hazardous fluid, such as gasoline or the like, which effects a shut-off response to a variety of conditions, including frost heave, and which device uti- -lizes a unitary control mechanism for responding to all of the aforesaid environmental hazards.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Now in accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects and others as will become apparent in the course of the ensuing specification, are achieved in a frost heave protected shut-off valve, which includes a lower body portion, having a lower fluid inlet means and an upper fluid outlet means; a flap valve be tween the inlet and outlet means, which valve includes a flap member and a valve seat, the flap member being mounted for rotation with a pivot pin having an external portion extending out of the body portion. A restraining arm, including a fusible link, is secured to the external portion of the pivot pin and extends transversely from the pin, being rotatable therewith. Means are present in the form of a spring or the like, serving to normally bias the flap member toward a closed position. A nipple is attached to the fluid outlet means and has a weakened shear zone extending about it proximate to the body portion. A sleeve is secured about the upper portion of the nipple and is in sealing relationship therewith. The restraining arm is normally held in a position maintaining the flap member open against the force provided by the biasing means. Upon upward displacement of the sleeve a predetermined distance with respect to the nipple, the restraining means is disabled to permit the flap member to close against the seat thereby shutting off fluid flow through the valve.

The restraining arm may include an arcuate portion, which engages the lower face of the gland nut and is normally thereby maintained in its restrained position. Should the gland nut ride upwardly due to the frost heave, the said arcuate portion continues to bear against the rising face of the nut, permitting the arm to rotate incremently, to finally close the flap member.

In another embodiment of the device, the said arm is restrained in conventional fashion by pin means extending from a point on the valve body above the shear zone, the pin engaging with a corresponding opening in the ar. In this version of the invention, the arm includes a portion which extends beyond said restrained point, along the axial direction of the nipple, and terminates at a trip portion which is bent inwardly toward the axis of the sleeve. This trip portion normally rests against the sleeve; the sleeve, however, carries a projection normally not contacting the trip portion, which projection upon upward movement of the sleeve contacts the trip portion to displace the arm angularly away from the axis of the sleeve, thereby disengaging the restraining pin to permit closure of the flap member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, in the drawings appended hereto, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a shut-off valve assembly in accordance with the present invention, with the sleeve of the assembly removed;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the valve assembly of FIG. 1, taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1, and with the sleeve attached;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the valve assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the valve assembly, with the sleeve partially cut away to illustrate details of the restraining arm;

FIG. 5 is an elevational, partly sectioned view, of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 6 is a partial, elevational view similar to FIG. 5, but taken from an angle 90 displaced, i.e., from the right-hand side of the FIG. 5 depiction.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings herein, reference numeral 10 indicates the conventional body portion of the valve having a lower fluid inlet 11 (FIG. 4), provided with threads 12, and an upper fluid outlet portion 13. The latter is provided with a flange 14 which is connectable in gasketed relation to flange 15 of the nipple portion 16 by means of bolts 17. Body portion 10 has a conventional flap 18 which seats on valve seat 19. A lever arm 20, extending from flap 18 is attached at its end to pivot pin 21. The later pivot pin extends through the wall of body 10 (FIG. 4) in outside-sealing relationship.

Attached to the outwardly protruding end of pin 21 is a restraining arm 22 which is made up of two pieces soldered together with a fusible metal link 23. A spring 24 disposed around pin 21 exerts a thrust tending to keep flap 18 closed against its seat 19.

Nipple portion 16 is-provided with a relatively weakened shear zone, in the form of a shear groove 25, immediately above flange l5. Disposed over nipple 16 in outside sealing relationship therewith, is a sleeve 26, such as one generally known in the art as a flexible compression fitting. Sleeve 26 isprovided at each end with a union coupling, such as lower coupling 27, provided with gasket 28, and threaded gland locking nut 29, which is tightened to insure sealing against leakage of liquid. It will be observed that the lateral edges of gland nut 29 project radially, further than the lateral walls of sleeve 26.

The lower widened portion 30 of nipple 16 is provided with an outwardly projecting boss 31, from which projects a peg or pin 32. The latter serves as an engaging means for arm 22. This pin extends radially farther than nut 29. Arm 22, which is locked at its lower end on to pin 21 by means of cotter pin 33, includes a first portion 34a, which is at an angle with respect to a second portion 34, which latter portion'is vertically positioned when arm 22 is set in a locked or valve-open position. Acircular hole 35 in the approximate center of arm 22 serves to engage projecting pin 32, and thus hold flap 18 in open position against the forces of spring 24 normally tending to bias the flap member 18 to a closed position. The thereby restrained or open position of the valve flap is indicated in shadow at 18' in FIG. 4. Arm portion 34 has its upper end bent inwardly, forming a tripping portion or lever 36.

When the valve unit is used in a gasoline-dispensing pump island, for example, the lower portion of the valve up to lower portion 30 of the nipple, is disposed below ground level. In the event of a fire, the conventional fusible link 23 on arm 22 is'melted, thus freeing arm 22 and thereby enabling the spring 24 to effect closing of the valve. Furthermore, in the event of a mild impact on sleeve 26, arm 22 may be dislodged from pin 32, thus freeing the said arm and again effecting closing of the valve. The same effect is obtained when a heavy impact shears nipple 16 at shear groove 25.

Furthermore, in the event of a frost heave, sleeve 26 can be moved in an upward or axial direction, independently of valve body 10 and nipple 16, causing sleeve 26 to slide upwardly on nipple 16. If the frost heave is so severe as to tend to slip sleeve 26 completely off nipple 16, the gland nut 29 which extends outwardly further than the wall of sleeve 26, will come to bear against tripping lever 36 (which normally is proximate to sleeve 26), thereby pushing the tripping lever 36 outwardly (as shown by broken lines in FIG. 3) to disengage arm 22 from pin 32. This once again removes the restraint otherwise preventing the biasing force from closing the flapper member 18, thereby enabling said member to swing to a closed position and thus stopping the flow of gasoline through the valve unit. It will also be appreciated here, that the gland nut 29 functions as a projection from the upwardly displaced collar, and that accordingly other projecting means such as a ring or the like can be present about the collar and function in an equivalent manner to displace tripping lever 36 upon contact therewith. In initial use, arm 22 is moved against the force of spring 24, and hole 35 is pushed over pin 32 so as to engage and hold arm 22 (FIG. 4) in valve-open position, so that flap 18 will be in position 18' (FIG. 2). In the event of fire, fusible link 23 will enable separation of arm 22 into two parts, as already outlined.

In FIG. 5 a valve assembly 40 appears, generally similar to the assembly heretofore discussed in connection with FIGS. 1 through 4. Analogous components are identified by corresponding reference numerals, as for example, the shear groove 25 which is provided on the nipple 16 extending upwardly from valve body portion 10. Similarly, nipple 16 is connected to the dispenser conduit 42 through a flexible compression connection, including a sleeve 26, and the pair of gland nuts 44 and 46, which threadingly engage sleeve 26 at opposite ends thereof. The fluid-tight seal between nipple l6 and conduit 42 is effected, e.g., by cooperation of a gasket 48, compressed between the gland nut, such as at 44, and the beveled edge 50 of sleeve 26, with a thrust washer 52 being provided between gasket and the opposed inner shoulder of the gland nut.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, it is seen that the restraining arm 22 comprises a first link 54 which is secured to the external portion of pin 21 in a manner that has been previously discussed, and a fusible link 56 which extends from link 54 in a generally arcuate fashion. The upper arcuate edge 58 of the link 56 is seen under normal conditions to be engaged beneath gland nut 46, so as to be restrained by the lower surface 60 thereof as is also seen in FIG. 6. In the thereby restrained position of arm 22, as has been previously discussed, the flap member 18 is held in an open position against a biasing force tending to close the said flap member. It will be evident that upon occurrence of excessive heat conditions, due, for example, to fire, the fusible link 56 melts, thereby removing the restraint upon arm 22, which then is displaced to an essentially vertical position, to close the flap member 18 and prevent flow through valve body 10. A similar result occurs in the event that mechanical damage or the like shears the assembly at shear groove 25, in that once again the restraint upon arcuate edge 58 of arm 22 is removed, permitting the said arm to be displaced to the shadowed line position indicated at 62.

Finally, should frost heave conditions result in an upward displacement of sleeve 26, together with the gland nut 46, it will be clear that the arcuate edge 58 of arm 22 is displaced incremently as the restraining surface 60 of nut 46 rises, so that the flap 18 gradually closes as the arm swings from the solid to shadowed line position 62, as shown in FIG. 5. During this process the arcuate edge 58 facilitates the ability of arm 22 to follow the movement of the nut.

While the present invention has been particularly se forth in terms of specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood in view of the instant disclosure that numerous variations upon the invention are now enabled to those skilled in the art, which variations yet reside within the scope of the present teaching. Accordingly, the invention is to be broadly construed and limited only by the scope and spirit of the claims now appsl sdrhe eto- .o

link being secured to the external portion of said pivot pin, said arm extending transversely from said pin and being rotatable therewith; means normally biasing said flap member toward a closed position; a nipple portion attached to said fluid outlet means and having a weakened shear zone extending about it proximate said body portion; and a sleeve secured in sealing relationship with and mounted in an axially displaceable relationship upon the portion of said nipple non adjacent said body portion; the improvement comprising:

means for normally restraining said arm at a position maintaining said flap member open against the force provided by said biasing means; and

means for disabling said restraining means upon axial displacement of said sleeve a predetermined distance away from said nipple, to permit said flap member to close against said seat to shutoff fluid flow through said valve.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleeve is attached in sealing relationship to said nipple by a gland nut, said means for restraining said arm consisting of the camming contact of the upper end of said arm with the lower face of said nut to maintain said normal restrained position, upward movement of said nut with said sleeve permitting said arm to incremently rotate toward a position effecting said flap member closing.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the portion of said arm contacing said face of said nut is generally arcuate, facilitating said incremental movement of said arm as said face is displaced,

4. A device in accordance with claim I, wherein said restraining means comprises a pin means projecting from the side of said nipple at a point proximate said shear zone and extending into an opening in said restraining arm; said arm further including a portion extending beyond said opening in said restraining arm along the axial direction of said nipple and terminating at a trip portion bent inwardly toward the axis of said sleeve and normally proximate to said sleeve; said sleeve carrying a projection normally not contacting said trip portion; axial movement of said sleeve away from said nipple effecting contact between said projection and trip portion to displace said arm angularly away from the axis of said sleeve, thereby disengaging said restraining pin from said opening in said arm to permit closure of said flap member by said biasing means.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said projecting surface comprises the periphery of a locking nut engaging the bottom end of said sleeve and cooper ating in effecting said sealing relationship between said sleeve and nipple. 

1. In a frost heave-protected shut-off valve of the type including a body portion having a fluid inlet means and fluid outlet means; a flap valve between said inlet and outlet means including a flap member and a valve seat; said flap member being mounted for rotation with a pivot pin having an external portion extending out of said body portion; a restraining arm including a fusible link being secured to the external portion of said pivot pin, said arm extending transversely from said pin and being rotatable therewith; means normally biasing said flap member toward a closed position; a nipple portion attached to said fluid outlet means and having a weakened shear zone extending about it proximate said body portion; and a sleeve secured in sealing relationship with and mounted in an axially displaceable relationship upon the portion of said nipple non-adjacent said body portion; the improvement comprising: means for normally restraining said arm at a position maintaining said flap member open against the force provided by said biasing means; and means for disabling said restraining means upon axial displacement of said sleeve a predetermined distance away from said nipple, to permit said flap member to close against said seat to shutoff fluid flow through said valve.
 2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sleeve is attached in sealing relationship to said nipple by a gland nut, said means for restraining said arm consisting of the camming contact of the upper end of said arm with the lower face of said nut to maintain said normal restrained position, upward movement of said nut with said sleeve permitting said arm to incremently rotate toward a position effecting said flap member closing.
 3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the portion of said arm contacing said face of said nut is generally arcuate, facilitating said incremental movement of said arm as said face is displaced.
 4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said restrainIng means comprises a pin means projecting from the side of said nipple at a point proximate said shear zone and extending into an opening in said restraining arm; said arm further including a portion extending beyond said opening in said restraining arm along the axial direction of said nipple and terminating at a trip portion bent inwardly toward the axis of said sleeve and normally proximate to said sleeve; said sleeve carrying a projection normally not contacting said trip portion; axial movement of said sleeve away from said nipple effecting contact between said projection and trip portion to displace said arm angularly away from the axis of said sleeve, thereby disengaging said restraining pin from said opening in said arm to permit closure of said flap member by said biasing means.
 5. A device in accordance with claim 4, wherein said projecting surface comprises the periphery of a locking nut engaging the bottom end of said sleeve and cooperating in effecting said sealing relationship between said sleeve and nipple. 